Bird Flu Outbreak in Hong Kong

Just as a team of Dutch researchers are pushing to publish the details of
how they created an easily-transmitted mutation of the deadly bird flu
virus, H5N1 has struck yet again in Hong Kong.

Health workers there have begun slaughtering more than 17,000 chickens on
Wednesday after a “highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus” was found
in a dead chicken at a poultry market.
The government also raised the bird flu alert to “serious” and banned the
same and import of live chickens for three weeks – to the consternation of
people who celebrate the “Dongzhi” winter solstice holiday by eating
chickens and other birds.

“I understand that it will cause inconvenience to the public, and the
poultry trade will also encounter losses,” said Food and Health Secretary
Dr. York.

We might respectfully add that it also causes “inconvenience” to the birds.

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